Sequester looms even as Congress suspends debt limitCongress approved a measure suspending the nation's debt ceiling, and lawmakers are now turning their attention to averting the looming sequestration cuts that will hit March 1. While some lawmakers have expressed pessimism that a sequester fix will found, groups such as the Aerospace Industries Association continue to push for action. "It is terribly bad public policy," said Marion Blakey, AIA president and CEO. And it would have a very negative effect on our economy." The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
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Defense

Defense firms are assuming sequester won't happenLeaders at major defense companies say they are not planning for sequestration cuts set to sweep federal spending on March 1, expressing optimism that lawmakers will hammer out a solution in time. Executives at firms such as Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics say their projections don't account for sequestration. Some firms say the sequester could be so large and the way it would be implemented so uncertain that they can't plan for it. The Washington Post
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Communities fear the worst with sequesterCommunities including Charleston, S.C., and Fort Worth, Texas -- and the defense companies that operate in them -- are bracing for the effect of $1 trillion in across-the-board spending cuts that will hit in March if lawmakers don't find a solution. Those communities are among the 47 metro areas that rely on defense work for more than 5% of their GDP. Defense News
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Defense cuts threaten alliance, NATO chief saysIf member countries continue cutting defense budgets, NATO's power will be weakened and safety threatened, warned Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO's secretary general, in a report this week. Rasmussen wants members of the alliance to keep budgets steady this year and warned that while NATO nations are shrinking their defense spending, emerging powers are increasing their military investment. Reuters
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Stop Sequestration Now!More than 2 million jobs are at stake if Congress and President Obama fail to act before March 1. Click here to contact your elected officials and urge them to work together on a balanced, bipartisan solution to stop the mindless meat axe threatening our national security and economy.

Curiosity rover prepares for first drilling on MarsNASA's Mars rover is set to begin drilling into a rock in the planet's "John Klein" outcrop once it passes a series of hardware tests. The Curiosity rover's first-ever drilling will go just 0.8 inches into the ground, not deep enough to collect samples, but enough to test whether the rock's material behaves as expected. Space.com
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Lockheed to work on Sierra Nevada Dream ChaserLockheed Martin has signed deals with Sierra Nevada Corp. to provide safety certification and construction for the Dream Chaser, a spacecraft being developed through the NASA commercial crew program. At NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Lockheed will construct the Dream Chaser's structure. "We believe this is the beginning of a tremendous relationship that will benefit both companies in a significant way," said Mark Sirangelo, Sierra Nevada executive vice president. Spaceflight Now
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AIA News

AIA member spotlight: North Carolina Global TransParkRecently joining AIA as an associate member, The North Carolina Global TransPark (GTP) is a 2,500-acre, multimodal industrial park offering unparalleled access to air, rail, highways, and North Carolina's two international ports. The GTP boasts a pro-business climate aimed at growing the aerospace, logistics, manufacturing, emergency services, defense contracting and supporting industries. See full list of AIA member companies.

Urgent call to action – Write Congress and the White House to stop sequestrationOn March 1, the federal government will begin implementing the initial round of sequestration budget cuts to defense and other important federal programs. Now is the time to reach out to your elected officials to communicate the urgent need to repeal sequestration. Go to the Second to None website to send a letter to your elected officials in Washington today.